Whereabouts of ISIS recruiter for India leaves security agencies worried

Recent intelligence inputs have revealed that Abdul Khadir Sultan Armar (44), a key member of Al Qaeda and Indian Mujahideen, is likely to come to India or is already hiding in at an undisclosed location in the country with an aim to carry out terror strikes in the near future.

Sultan, who is originally a resident of Bhatkal in Karnataka, was allegedly involved in recruiting youths including ISIS sympathisers in India through social networking websites.

Sultan has been declared ‘most wanted’ terrorist by Indian security agencies including National Investigation Agency (NIA). Recently, a specific input was received by Bangalore police and NIA, according to which Sultan, believed to have so far been hiding in North Waziristan — was supposed to land at Bangalore airport from UAE on 17 December.

Based on the tip-off, a trap was laid at the airport and a man was caught too. However, the suspect was later released after agencies confirmed that the man was not Sultan. The development has left security agencies worried as there is a fear that Sultan has managed to enter India giving a slip to Indian agencies. Delhi Police Special Cell has been asked to keep a special vigil on in Delhi-NCR to track Sultan. The alleged terrorist is reported to have been a key member of Al Qaeda and started his journey in the world of terrorism with Yasin Bhatkal, who was arrested by the Special Cell in 2013. Later, Sultan joined Indian Mujahideen and helped the outfit to develop links with SIMI to become more powerful. After his recent tiff with Riyaz Bhatkal, founder of IM, Sultan allegedly started recruiting vulnerable youths including ISIS sympathisers using social networking websites — Facebook (User name Mohammad Ata) and Twitter Accounts-@ Sult, @ Mulla, @Moulana, @Nakhwa, @ Pandit, @ Shekhu, @ Sheikh-Ul-Hadees and @ Pujari).

Currently, he is reportedly involved in the recruitment of fresh group of youths from Rajasthan, sources claimed. “When it comes to ISIS recruitments in India, Sultan is the real pointsperson,” a source in NIA said.